The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 172 - Taking the Hook

That night, it rained. Many young ladies, hopeful for a chance to shine, were quietly disheartened. This spring hunt was unusual in that it included women from the rear courtyard, supposedly because the Empress enjoyed their company. But everyone understood the true reason—several young princes, the Crown Prince's heir, and Consort Fan's son, Zhou Weiqi, had all reached marriageable age.

Since ancient times, spring hunts with gatherings of noble men and women had become a subtle matchmaking event. And now, with this drizzle, tomorrow's riding and archery competition might be canceled, and with it the chance for these ladies to showcase themselves. Unlike the well-known Song family's Sixth Miss, they couldn't rely on the fame of winning a race against the Ninth Princess to make a name for themselves.

Song Chuyi couldn't sleep either, tossing and turning. Tonight, there was no starlight outside, nor the unique countryside sounds of early summer. She sat up, wrapping herself in her blankets, and frowned as she listened to the rain, lost in thought.

Ziyun, always alert, quickly got up from her pallet on the floor and asked, "Miss, are you thirsty?" Seeing her shake her head, Ziyun heard the rain and smiled, comforting her. "Are you worried that the rain might affect tomorrow's events?"

Song Chuyi nodded. If the rain continued, the riding and archery event might be canceled, and Chen Xiang would surely wait for another time to strike. If there were no large gatherings that could disguise an accident, he could act on their journey back to the capital or even within the city itself. For the Jinyiwei, making her disappear without a trace wouldn't be difficult.

Ziyun tucked the blankets around her, whispering soothingly, "Miss, don't worry. By morning, the ground will be clean and dry, without a trace of water, as if it never rained at all. Those who sleep early won't even know it rained."

Growing up in the countryside, Ziyun was accustomed to the ways of nature. "The weather in the capital and here is similar. A bit of rain followed by a nighttime breeze, and by morning, everything is fresh and dry. I promise it won't interfere with your plans."

The next morning, when Song Chuyi stepped outside, she realized Ziyun was right. Although the hunting grounds had no paved paths, the expected mud and puddles were barely there; only the lowest spots retained a bit of water. Everywhere else was dry, with a light breeze carrying the scent of tea roses, refreshing and invigorating.

Her previous worries disappeared. Given her recently acquired reputation as a "lone star of calamity," an accident in this setting would seem perfectly plausible. If she missed this chance, Chen Xiang would likely wait until she returned to the capital, where he and Prince Duan were sure to grow impatient with her survival.

By now, the hunting grounds were crowded. Those disappointed by the rain felt their spirits lift at the pleasant weather, and even the Cui sisters, eager to show off their skills, looked excited. Their father had trained them well in riding back in Fujian, making them quite capable.

Chen Mingyu called out, "Sixth Sister!" Since they were on the hunting grounds, the usual restrictions on decorum were relaxed, and she didn't worry about appearing too familiar as she took Song Chuyi's hand, looking her up and down with a smile. "We thought you'd be upset by the rumors, but you look perfectly fine."

Song Chuyi wore a pale yellow jacket embroidered with small flowers, paired with a soft yellow skirt, standing lightly in the breeze, as if she might float away.

Chen Mingyu, noting her attire, guessed she didn't plan to compete. Squeezing her hand, she said, "This outfit is lovely; it makes us look plain in comparison. It's right not to mind those rumors. Believe what you want. I don't trust all that talk about 'lone stars of calamity' either. It's just scary words, so don't let it frighten you."

As she spoke, the emerald earrings she wore glittered, highlighting her rosy cheeks and the beauty mark on her forehead, impossible to ignore.

Nearby, Shen Huiyi, who had intended to join the conversation, hesitated. Chen Mingyu's words were true in a way: belief in such things varied, but Shen Huiyi was one of those who did believe.

The referee for today's competition was the wife of Grand Secretary Du, Old Lady Du, who reluctantly accepted the position. High-ranking and senior in status, she had no choice but to step up.

She joined some other noblewomen at a hillside pavilion, chatting idly as she watched the girls below. Praying silently to herself, she thought, Why did the girl with the "lone star of calamity" fate have to come today?

Hoping for a smooth day, she rubbed her forehead, dreading the possibility of an accident during the archery competition. But just as she finished her prayer, commotion erupted below.

The horses lined up for the girls to ride suddenly stampeded wildly into the crowd. Even the Yulin Guards on duty were trampled, and several were injured.

Old Lady Du, gripping the railing in shock, could hardly believe her eyes. Some two or three dozen horses were barreling through the crowd, their tails tied with firecrackers that exploded loudly as they charged forward.

Song Chuyi lowered her head, smiling faintly. All the effort she had put into wearing such a conspicuous outfit had paid off—the fish had finally taken the bait.